State Licensing Authorities

Bureau of Cannabis Control

The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) is the lead agency in regulating commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California. The Bureau is responsible for licensing retailers, distributors, testing labs, microbusinesses, and temporary cannabis events.

CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing

CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing, a division of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), ensures public safety and environmental protection by licensing and regulating commercial cannabis cultivators in California. CalCannabis also manages the state’s track-and-trace system, which tracks all commercial cannabis and cannabis products — from cultivation to sale. CalCannabis is organized into three branches: Licensing, Compliance and Enforcement, and Administration.

Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch

Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch, a division of the California Department of Public Health, (CDPH) is one of three state licensing authorities charged with licensing and regulating commercial cannabis activity in California. MCSB is responsible for regulation of all commercial cannabis manufacturing in California. MCSB strives to protect public health and safety by ensuring commercial cannabis manufacturers operate safe, sanitary workplaces and follow good manufacturing practices to produce products that are free of contaminants, meet product guidelines and are properly packaged and labeled.

The state’s three cannabis licensing authorities are all accepting applications and issuing licenses for commercial cannabis activity in California. Please visit the licensing tab for more information.